THE WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 637, 14 October 1909, Page 3

THE WATER POWER REGULATIONS.

.Sir,—ln the .face.of. .so^raanyunemployed, it is a pity for the Dominion in general arid the "West Coast ' of the South -Island, (and; probably other parts) in particular that; the Hon. R. H'Kenzie, Minister for Public Works./does not see his way to so amend the conditions of the water power regulations, that encouragement be given to capitalists and others to develop power in our rivers, that use may be made of- it-, for mining and other industries. | I have'latelyhad an opportunity of seeing some correspondence from the manager of one of tlio largest alluvial mines in California,'who intended visiting ; here. He writes that our water power regulations "arc very stupid and surol.v cannot survive." Ho goes on to state that in California if water is wanted fot power purposes it is pegged oiT and applied for under a certain Act. A permit is in due course granted, and no chargo made for the use of water. His taxes amount to J5140 per annum, tho capital of tho company being similar 'to that of tfce proposed 'i'oaroha Company, £150,(100, and using about the same horsepower. Compare this amount.with tho rent for water under the present regulations, .£2850, county rates JCI3OO, and the rent -of claims, which bring the total to nearly XSOOO per . acre. . ' j - In auother letter from a London resident, in touch with large capital, and who intended interesting ' himself in mining oh the' coast, when ho heard of the conditions of, tho regulations, stated: "It's 110 uso going'into the prospects of successful -flotation unless the water question is ararnged on reasonable terms.", Others, I understand, who. had come lo tho West Coast to do business, when the regulations were gazetted, simply returned'to Australia.Tho . above-referred-to ; ; people have largo capital behind them, and -are' willing to find any amount for. legitimate mining proposals,: but 'the 1 chancs' of getting capital,

supplying employment, for .thousands on the p West Coast, reviving the languishing mining h industry, and tho hopes of an? enterprising syn* gi dicato (whose chief desire ■ was'to-bring pro®- si perity to Westland)-aro stifled by foolish and it unnecessary regulations. New Zealand is a y grand country, but is being spoilt' by rules fi andiregulations for which it is not fitted.. : . v For.the Inst 25..years. I have.had consider* " able experience .in .'surveying', arid mining 'in. n different parts of Nelson and tho West Coast, fi arid am well acquainted with mauj; miles of ti auriferous terraces and country awaiting water " to come in to work lliem, which .average from p four .to-six grains of gold per load. In Vic-, a toria at preserit; ground averaging' two grains' t pays dividends to companie.*; If water can n be . raised to these parts kby * hydro-electric s power, surely when one takes into- considera- t tion the mining taxes, local rates, duty- on' ( machinery, etc./these .are sufficient, • without I \ devising further means • of In S America,' Sweden,'- and other parts. 'of the .r world vre firi'd Governments-allowing . water to ) l)e used for'power purposes;'and no hindrances - put .in' the • win* of doveloping"industries. But i our present' Liberal Government propose- .to 1 tax. industries before' thby 'are' even started, c The Hon. R. v M'l\enzi6 cjuoted Sweden in -de- 1 fence of his Regulations. ' But.there is«no. gold- 3 miniiig' iit • Sweden,, and, tho Gor- -t ernment/there only charge for ; water -power \ when they have* developed it (after 1 , spending ] much nioney'"in doing-so). '- Quite right,, then,' that they 'snould. But when it is developed, by companies tor -private' people, for industrial t, purposes',, accoraing to circumstances, a' lease ] is granted (with rights to. renewal), either at. a ,j very'small: rental'"Or-free.V 1 :'Now what do .wo-find -on; the West Coast, with its industries very few t\nd, populati<>u •] Scanty ? : .Tbe-Pioneer',Toaroha Company,'-whose 1 object'' is- :to raise ! water ; »on' high c- auriferous torraces and abandoned; 'goldfields, , and supply ,' miners • with, water .t?>'. open new claims, , • thereby giving employment" in.. up -Riniu 'dis-. trict' to' about 500- miners, and the.. Blue Spur probably about half as many -blocked.-by foolish; aud .unnecessary.:regulations,; - when';..the. • water applied .for could-, have -been granted under the Mining Act by the Minister liad be so desired; and- business benefiting , the Dominion would have been staged.- It. is two years since the use of a. portion of tho Tdaroho, waters 'were applied for, and no lease is granted yet by thq Government. It is stated that the Hon. •R. M'Kenzie; is not;, delaying , this .business,' but a servant 'pf his . own Department. However,' the.Minister's nam© appears at the end of,the regulations, .so he and nis Government approve of no i busincjis being done and prosperity nud capital.being kept from-entering our shores, when the applicaltion was first made,-Mr. Parhanv an trifial' and. mining -engineer of great experience and undoubted ability, had capitalists ready to leave. South .Africa and; invest iHOO,OOO in any scbeme recommended by him. : But after the, application for water was N under. the "favourable consideration" of 1 tho Minister for six months . the capital • was- diverted, to America ,arid invested in a like scheme. So the syndicate lost this'opportunity of getting the necessary, cupital, and before they can do • ariy business, with the New Zealand' Government will probably'lose others. It is to be hoped'that tho member for "Westland, Mr.'.T. E. T. Seddon, 4 will get tho Goldfields Committee to inquire into this matteT, for the op-; position shown.-to this.enterprise".is very unfair. "A progressive Government!" I doubt if you will find the like in any other, part of the world.—l am, etc., ■ NORMAN D. MABIN. Greymouth» October 7. .-V